Uni./Main water break means new design

The intersection of University Street and Main Street is being redesigned in response to the water main break that took place under the road on Sept. 6.

The Illinois-American Water Company pipe burst early last Friday morning, with traffic reduced to right-turn only lanes by 7 a.m.

Employees of the City of Peoria (COP) Public Works department and Illinois-American Water Company were at the intersection for most of the day, with two to three inches of water standing in the road for most of the morning.

The intersection has seen sporadic construction for the week since.

The remodeling of the intersection will involve the installation of multiple ramps that meet the Americans with Disabilities Act legal standards.

This means the corners will be reconstructed with at least four feet width for wheelchair access and less steep slopes, and truncated dome bump plates for blind pedestrians will be installed.

The number of traffic lanes, sidewalk details, traffic system designs and other specifics of the intersection will need to be discussed further, according to COP City Engineer Scott Reeise.

“We have to hold some public meetings in the near future to decide exactly what will be constructed,” Reeise said.

With an estimate of more than 100 students traveling through the intersection daily on their way to and from class, some students said they would like to see a more user-friendly

Senior management information systems major David Yearwood, who lives north of the intersection, said he would like to see some pedestrian crossing changes.

“I can’t really think of a big change, but maybe…some extra signs telling drivers to yield to pedestrians [would be helpful],” he said. “I know we already have that stuff, but drivers still don’t yield [to pedestrians].”

Vice President for Business Affairs Gary Anna said he has heard the intersection will be designed with Bradley in mind.

“We have only heard that there may be some exploratory discussions regarding how the intersection might be re-crafted to be more user and campus friendly,” Anna said. “We are always interested in finding ways to improve pedestrian safety so long as the integrity of the neighborhood traffic and area needs are considered.”

For more information on the public meetings visit the COP Public Works website at www.peoriagov.org/public-works/, and continue to read The Scout as coverage of the intersection’s reconstruction continues.